John Stanford

1938–1998 (age 60)

U.S. Army general and educator

Biography

John Stanford was a career U.S. Army officer whose bravery and compassion led him from combat service to the rank of major general. He was praised for his inclusive leadership while commanding units that spanned the globe, always insisting that the humanity of each soldier mattered as much as tactics.

Upon retiring from uniformed service, he brought that same spirit to the Seattle Public Schools, revolutionizing education with an unshakable belief that every child deserved opportunity, earning him deep affection in both the military and civilian communities.

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